The primary cause of sewage spills is the dilapidated state of Baltimore’s municipal sewer systems and treatment plants.

Sewage

Baltimore’s aging sanitary sewer system is more than 100-years-old in some places, and as a result, pipe failures and undermined capacity overflows millions of gallons of untreated sewage into our neighborhood streams, rivers, and Baltimore Harbor each year.

When swimmers, boaters, fishermen and others come in contact with water contaminated with sewage, it can cause skin and sinus infections as well as stomach disorders.

Getting sewage pollution in our waterways under control is a complicated challenge. To address the issue we work with volunteers, legislators, enforcement agencies, and residents in seeking effective solutions.

Advocating for Clean Water

Our mission is to restore water quality by enforcing water pollution laws and advocating for sound policy and accountability to help protect public health. Blue Water Baltimore strongly advocates for the local government to be held accountable when sewer overflows occur. We closely monitors and samples the Baltimore Harbor, rivers, and streams for several different water quality parameters, such as fecal bacteria and nutrients, which are indicators of pollution resulting from sewage overflows.

Blue Water Baltimore strongly advocates for the local government to be held accountable when sewer overflows occur. We request they post water quality advisory signage, notify impacted communities and the news media, and cleanup the resulting waste water and sewage debris in a timely fashion.

Take Action

There are many ways you can make clean water a reality. Whether you volunteer, write letters, or change your yard: take action today!